Animals at the Table

Animals at the Table is based on the very successful courses taught to undergraduate and postgraduate students of law, ethics, and science in multiple legal jurisdictions around the world by international animal welfare legal specialist Ian Robertson. This book does not trudge boringly through case law; instead it takes an objective, practical, and authoritative look at issues involving animals. First, it examines the foundational concepts of the human-animal relationship, and then explores how those principles have, or have not, been translated into contemporary animal welfare law. Other issues covered are the various uses of animals in society, the practical relevance of animal welfare to activities of professionals, and consideration of animal welfare in context of large-scale global issues including climate change, disease control, and issues of food safety and supply in feeding a predicted global population of 9 billion people by the year 2050. Animals at the Table has international applications and is relevant to a wide number of legal jurisdictions which either have, or are in the process of developing, animal protection/welfare legislation.

As the name suggests, Animals at the Table acknowledges the diversity of people's views regarding animals — from beloved pets who are served dinner with the family, to animals raised as pure commodities that are literally served as dinner for the family. Reality illustrates that there are a multitude of stakeholders with competing, and often conflicting interests involving animals, and that while personal and organizational opinions may vary, issues of biosecurity, genomics, international trade, sustainability, and humane animal welfare have enormous relevance to the future well-being of animals and humans. Accordingly, Animals at the Table "tables" animals' interests as one stakeholder, but not the only stakeholder, whose interests need to be considered at the decision-making table.

Animals at the Table provides a balanced, practical, and authoritative education about animal welfare in a thoroughly readable book that considers animals in context of law, ethics and science.